Micro Braids are in!

*Ok so I have had the Micros for about a week now. I lost this post and it took some time to find it.  My edges are a little rough now because I did not braid them tight. I didn’t even try to catch them in the braid. My goal for 2012 is to grow out some healthy edges*

First, I have to thank all the YouTubers!  Without their help, I would have never been able to put these darn things in!

My micro braids are completed. I am very happy with the results. My hubby is happy with the results, too. And the compliments can keep coming!!! Toot! Toot! *my horn* I am really proud of myself!

Products Used:

FreeTress Braid Bulk Brook Curl 1b/33

Queene Helene Royal Curl Shampoo and Conditioner (added in honey, EVOO and coconut oil for a deep conditioner)

SofteeCare Shea Butter Cream (a little mineral oil; it was the 15th ingredient down but WATER and Shea were first!!)

Kimmaytube Leave – In Conditioner

Rubber bands soaked in EVOO

Rat Tail Comb

Clips (to keep hair out the way)

Time and Patience – it took 3 days to complete. No, I was not braiding constantly. I have a life, LOL!

Here are a few of the YouTube videos that helped also:

** The slip knots were the hardest to grasp. Do not use nail glue it could damage your hair*

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vz_LiYjIGD4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L9QaNdR_3PA

The key to doing micro braids is to find your own style.  There are so many variations of the technique.  I did what came naturally to me.  I made sure my braids were neat and took my time.

Check out my pics and let me know what you think:

Smooches

Are You Standing in Your Own Way?

The Write or Die Chick: Are You Standing in Your Own Way?

By Janelle Harris

Share your thoughts!

Smooches

When I was a kid, I had a Baby Skates doll. I can still see her vividly in my mind... she had a little Condoleezza Rice-ish bob and a neon pink and yellow outfit. Her shorts might’ve even qualified as hot pants, now that I think about it. I was none the wiser back then. All I knew is I pressed her button and she would whirl into action, rolling all robotic across the kitchen floor. Then, if I didn’t have her trajectory lined up just so, she would hit a wall and skate against that ugly wood paneling until her batteries were drained. 


Sometimes I feel just like Baby Skates.

As much of a big dreamer as I am and as many times as I’ve written out my goals and pasted additions to my vision board, I have had to recognize that sometimes it ain’t the wall standing in my way. Sometimes it’s me. I indulge in more than my fair share of self-sabotage, and I’ve discovered that I’m pretty good at it. I procrastinate like nobody’s business. That right there is my special hidden talent. You need some time wasted, honey? I’m your woman. Thing is, I always look busy. That’s because I’m also easily distracted. While I’m flitting all around, I’m not getting too much of anything done. It drives me crazy about myself, and ultimately it’s blocked me from scratching as many things off my to-do list of accomplishments.

Several years back, my pastor — the amazing Rev. Harold B. Hayes, Jr. at Hunter Memorial AME Church in Suitland, MD, in case you’re wondering — preached a New Year’s Eve sermon telling us that we already have access to the things God has for us. We just need to tap into it. He encouraged us to activate it in the physical by shaking our keys at things we were praying to manifest in our lives, the keys representing access.

My friends and I hopped in the car the next day and shook ourselves silly. We shook our keys at beautiful houses. We shook our keys at the BMW dealership. We shook our keys at the airport because we wanted to be world travelers, at banks because we wanted to be philanthropists, and at schools because we all want advanced degrees minus the burden of student loans. And of course, we shook our keys at David’s Bridal. I mean, it couldn’t hurt.

After that exercise in faith, I was all prepped and ready for my breakthrough. God was going to do something powerful after all that naming and claiming and key-shaking. Then I struggled through three of the most terrible years of my life. I landed in eviction court -- three times -- because I was too broke to pay my rent. My car got repossessed. My daughter was having emotional problems and failing out of a school that, unbeknownst to her, I was thisclose to having to pull her from because I couldn’t afford the tuition. My relationship with my man was on the fritz. Life wasn’t looking anything like the wonderland of blessings that I was expecting after I jingled those keys. I was more than a little discouraged. Some days I was insulted. Others I was flat-out pissed. What was the use of being a big dreamer and having these elaborate visions if God wasn’t going to set them off?

It’s easy to get in a habit of blaming circumstances, situations and people for what’s not going on in our lives when in actuality, it’s us. Just regular ol’ everyday, look-at-ourselves-in-the-mirror us. Life happens to everybody and being here and being good and even, if you’re a person of faith, being a dedicated follower doesn’t absolve anybody from trouble. That was a hard pill for my broke tail to swallow, but I went on ahead, considering I didn’t have health insurance. While I was waiting for my personal storms to pass, I also had to get clear about things Janelle was doing to slow down Janelle’s own progress.

I started calling myself out on being a time-waster and scatterbrain. I could only log onto Facebook or answer emails from my bestie if I worked for a half-hour straight, uninterrupted. That was my reward. If I didn’t send a new story idea to one of my editors for the day, I couldn’t watch TV. That was my consequence. Instituting a system of checks and balances for myself held me accountable for the things I could control in the progress toward my dreams. God was ultimately in charge, yes. But I played a part in how swiftly -- and gracefully -- I came out.

I’m still learning how to get out of my own way. Lord knows I am. Unlike Baby Skates, I’m more flexible. I had to learn how to stick and move, even against myself.

(Source www.essence.com)

Read more: http://www.essence.com/2011/10/06/the-write-or-die-chick-are-you-standing-in-your-own-way/#ixzz1b9JC92H6

Micro Braid Weekend…

Ok, I am going to attempt some Micro braids this weekend. I have a full four days off from work so I will take my sweet little precious time.

Do not ask me how to do them!  I can’t explain it. Point blank. I watched hours of YouTube videos to nail down my own technique. You don’t have to be perfect like the “Africans”.  Being neat and taking your time should deliver some nice braids each time.

I am not using human hair this time. I want to perfect my own craft before I spend that kind of money. I am going to try some deep wave bulk hair though. It may run about $8.00 a pack. #dontjudgeme.

Prep is the key.  I am going to wash and deep condition my hair tonight.  Moisture and blow dry in the morning before I start. I think I am going to add in a protein conditioner to help with the breakage.  One key theme in every video was a CLEAN HEAD. Do not put in braids on a dirty scalp. You will be the blame for the extreme itch afterward.

I may do a video for the site or YouTube. I haven’t decided yet.  It will be up next week if I do one.

Lastly, I wanted to leave you with some pictures of my twist out. I love it! It turned out really cute. I only have one hang-up: shrinkage.  You have to see for yourself.

Twist Out. it's springy and wild!



Hard to see!!! But you can still tell how my hair shrinks.



Front view

Upclose side view

Smooches

Women’s Retreat

So my friends and I are working on a little women’s retreat for the fall or spring. I want to do more than laughing and sipping wine. Let’s talk. We are so busy with work and family that we rarely have time to just let it all out. I don’t want this to be a venting session either.  Why can’t we come together to exchange ideas and network? You can network among your friends. Some of friends don’t know about your hidden talents or side business that you have.  You also may have a tough stain or kid issue that another friend may have the answer too.

Sound off! What are some fun things you like to do with your friends? Where are the cool affordable places to visit?

Smooches

Back to School

I am back in school. So the posts may slow down a bit but I will try to keep bringing the thoughts that come to my mind. I have a few posts that are in my head. I just need a little time to sort them all out. I also found some interesting posts on some of my favorite blogs.

Remember you can always let me know what you would like to see!

Smooches

Excited about my growth!!!

So I was looking through all 800 of my pictures on yesterday and found some pictures from last year.  I could not believe how much my hair has grown. I sit and look at my tight a** afro and say afro. She says yes! I say are you growing? She says sure but you can’t see it.  My 6 inch long hair shrinks to less than half the size. I always look like I have a TWA (teeny weenie afro).

One style that I like but doesn’t always work is TWIST. I love me some two strand twist. I think they can be so funky when done right. Problem is I always feel like a boy after I put them in. I usually jazz up the make up or add in some accessories. So take a look at the pictures and tell me what you think…

Smooches





11/2010

6/2011

Just this week 10/2011